Medicator



J. T. WEEKS April 2o, 1937.

MEDICATOR Filed May 9, 1954 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE MEDICATOR James T. Weeks, Biloxi, Miss.

Application May 9, 1934, Serial No. 724,787

i 7 claims. (01.128-251) The present invention relates to medicators, and, particularly, a medicator adapted for use in treating the vagina, cervix, uterus and adnexa.

The objects of the invention are to provide such a medicator of simple construction and of a minimum number of parts, which is characterized by the ease and facility with which it may be used.

In the drawing, herewith, is shown one form 1f) of the invention, but it will be understood that the drawing is illustrative and in no sense restrictive, as the invention may be developed in various mechanical ways:

Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view of the device, showing it in expanded condition.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device, showing it in contracted condition,

Figure 3 is an end view of the device,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view along the 0 line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and b Figure 6 is a view of one of the dilating memers.

The device comprises a dilating spray nozzle A, a holder B, and a guide plate C.

The nozzle A is composed of a plurality of nozzle sections, each section constituting a dilating arm or member. Referring to Figure 5, the upper pair of sections constitute anterior dilating members I0, while the lower pair of sections constitute posterior dilating members II. The dilating members may be made of any suitable material having sufcient rigidity to dilate and retain dilated the walls of the cavity being treated. Metal or hard rubber will adequately serve this purpose.

The sections are in the form of 90 segments of a cylinder, each segment being bent outwardly in a radial direction from a point adjacent its inner end. The sections are shown in abutting relation, each section having abutting faces I3 and I 4, and an outside cylindrical wall I5. The abutting surfaces I3 and I4 may be curved longitudinally of the sections, or they may be plane. In either case, the longitudinal surface plane of each abutting surface changes direction where the surface I3 merges into the surface I4, by reason of the outward radial bend near the inner ,50 end of each section.

As shown in Figure 2, the surfaces I3 of each dilating member taper inwardly as they approach the distal end of the member, so that the distal end of each member is of slightly less cross sec- ,55 tional area. than the main body portion of the member. Furthermore, as shown particularly in Figure 3, the surfaces I3 taper inwardly in aradial direction from the center of the nozzle to the outer walls thereof as at I6. This construction precludes the possibility of the device pinching the tissues of the cavity being treated between the edges of the dilating members.

To retain the dilating members in the position shown in Figure 1, the holder B is provided. This holder comprises a handle portion I1 of relatively hard rubber, and a cupped portion I 8 of relatively soft and very elastic rubber. The cupped portion carries interiorly thereof an integral crossed web 2U of rubber, said web forming with the wall of the cup a plurality of sockets 2|, as shown in Figure 4.

At the inner ends of the dilating members I0 and II, the abutting surfaces I 4 are cut away to form shoulders 23, said shoulders serving to limit the inward movement of the inner ends of the dilating members when they are forced into the sockets 2|. The outer cylindrical wall of the dilating members near the inner ends thereof are provided with enlarged portions 25, which serve to distend the wall of the elastic cup I8 when the members are inserted therein. When the dilating members are inserted into the sockets 2I as shown in Figure 1, the elastic cup I8 will be stretched and will retain the inner ends of the members in their sockets. The shoulders 23 of the dilating members abutting against the end of the web 20 will prevent the members from being inserted too far into their sockets.

The normal condition of the dilating members and the holder is shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that because of the elasticity of the cup I8, the stretched condition of the latter will hold the inner ends of the dilating members compressed against the web 20. Thus, the distal ends of the dilating members Il] and II will normally be maintained in expanded condition.

To facilitate the insertion of the dilating members, the guide plate C is provided. Plate C may be made of any suitable material, such as hard rubber, and is of such shape as to conform to the shape of the body surrounding the cavity to be treated. The guide plate is apertured substantially at the center of its surface, as at 21, the aperture being of an area slightly greater than the combined cross sectional areas of the dilating members. The lip of the aperture 21 is iiared outwardly as at 28, to assist smooth co-operation of the parts during insertion and withdrawal. The lower body portion of plate C is directed outwardly as at 30, forming a channel way 3| when the plate is placed against the body of the user, for a reason which will later appear.

The handle portion l1 of the holder B is hollowed to4 form a material inlet passage 33, and the outer end of the handle is provided with a bead 34 for attachment With a suitable source of material, such as a hose end 35.

If water is to be used, hose 35 may be connected to a spigot, or to a three Way connection having a hose leading v'to both hot and cold Water spigots, in order to regulate the temperature of the Water. If a medicant is to be used, hose 35 may be connected to a container which is supplied with theA Same.

Each of the dilating members constitutes Wanozzle section, in that they are providedwith a.

longitudinal bore 3l through which the material of small spray orifices 38, which extend from the bore 3l to theV outer wall ofthe sections. It will be noted that a spray orifice 38 is disposed in the distal end of each nozzle section.

When the device is used, the guide plate is placed against the body With the channel 3l extending downwardly. The distal ends of the dilating members are then manually compressed sufficiently to permit their insertion into the aperture 2l, as shown in Figure 2. When the distal ends of the members are forced together, the outer ends thereof will distend the cup i8, and said cup will exert a centrally directed force tending to expand the distal ends. When the de'- vice is in this condition, the dilating members will be pivoted, one against the other, at approximately the transverse plane 5 5 indicated in Figure 2.Y As the device is then'further inserted through the aperture 2l' and into the cavity, the distal endsv will gradually be permitted to` expand, thus dilating the walls of the cavity. As the dilating arms expand, their pivot points will move toward the holder B until the device is in the condition shown in Figure 1, wherein the arms are shown completely expanded. Referring to Figure 3, it will be apparent that the dilating arms,`as shown by the dotted lines, will dilate the wallsof the cavity so that al1 of its folds are exposed.

In this connection, it will be observed that the posterior dilating members l I are of materially greater length than the anterior members l0. This feature is desirable in that the posterior Wall of the vagina connects to the outer Wall of the lower uterus above where the anterior Wall of the vagina connects to the uterus. That is, the curve of the vagina results in its posterior side being longer than its anterior side. Consequently, the provision of longer posterior dilating members insures that the pocket of the vagina posteriorly of the cervix is exposed to the treating material.

`When the vagina is thus dilated, the four dilating arms will surround, and provide a pocket for the cervix. The material used in the treatment is then forced through the inlet 33, through the bore 3l, and is sprayed through the spray orifices 38. Because of the dilation of the vagina, all of the inner surface thereof Will be treated and the entrance to the uterus will also be thoroughly treated;

The material being used will ow out through the entrance of the orice and Will pass through the channel 3| of plate C to a suitable receptacle. The material will flow freely from the orifice between the dilating arms, this ow being assisted by the tapered portions I6 Where the arms abut one another, said tapered portions forming outlet channels. To facilitate this flow, the longitudinal edges of the dilating arms may be slightly cut away for a short distance, as at 62.

When the treatment is completed, the flow of material may be stopped, and the device removed by withdrawing the dilating members outwardly through the aperture 21, this movement contracting the members to permit easy removal.

It-Willfthus be seen that theinvention provides a device of simple construction, and one having a minimum number of parts, Which will dilate the cavity with the user performing only one operation, that of insertion. Furthermore, the device is so constructed as to co-operate With the natural vshape of the vagina, and thus to insure that Yall of the Vparts thereof are exposed for treatment;

Such departure from the construction here disclosed as amounts only to mechanical skill may be made withoutV departing 'from the 'range' of Vthe invention.

I claim:

1. In a dilator for a cavity of the body, a plurality of dilating arms having'inner and distal ends, the ends Vof said arms extending outwardly from one another, and a holder for said arms comprising a resilient sleeve surrounding the same, saidholder serving to support said arms at their inner ends and to normally compress the saine to dilate the distal ends of said arms.

2. In a dilator for a cavity of the body, a plurality of dilating arms, said arms being normally i expanded, and a guide plate for said arms adapted to be held in xed position at the entrance of the body cavity for contracting said arms as; they are longitudinally slid in contact With said plate intothe body cavity.

3. In a dilator for a cavity of the body, a plurality of dilating arms, said arms being normally expanded, and a guide plate for saidarms having an opening therethrough adapted to be held in fixed position at the entrance of the body cavity for contracting saidarms as they are longitudinally slid through the opening in said plate into the body cavity.

4. In a dilator for a cavity of the body, a plurality of ldilating arms, said arms being normally expanded, a guide plate for said arms having an opening therethrough adapted to be held in fixed position at the entrance of the body cavity for contracting said arms as they are longitudinally slid through the opening in said plate into the body cavity, and means for spraying the body cavity with fluid after insertion of said arms.

5. In a dilator for a cavity of the body, a plurality of dilating arms, said arms being normally expanded, a guide plate for said arms having an opening therethrough adapted to be held in fixed position at the entrance of the body cavity for contracting said arms as they are longitudinally slid through the opening in said plate into the body cavity, means for spraying the body cavity with fluid after insertion of said arms, and means included in said plate for conveying away the uid discharged from the body cavity.

6. In a dilator for a cavity of the body, a plurality of dilating arms having inner and distal ends, the ends of said arms being bent outwardly from one another, a holder for said arms, said holder serving to support said arms at their inner ends and to compress the vsame to dilate the distal ends of said arms, and a guide plate having anopening therethrough adapted to be held in xed position at the entrance of the body cavity `15 for contracting said arms as they are longitudirounding and slidably mounted on said arms,. nally slid through the opening in said plate into said arms being expanded when the guide plate the body cavity. is at or near the inner ends of the arms, said '7. In a dilator for a cavity of the body? a pluplate being adapted to contract said arms when 5 rality of dlating arms, having confronting sursaid arms are slid through said plate.

faces and with inner and distal ends, said arms being normally expanded, and a guide plate sur- JAMES T. WEEKS. 

